Pressley chooses Celtic

Sunday 29 January 2006 00:12 BST

Celtic have fended off competition from Charlton to sign Scotland defender Steven Pressley.

The 33-year-old's agent, Blair Morgan, revealed that Pressley opted to join the Scottish champions due to the promise of playing in the Champions League next season. Because he played for Hearts in Europe this term, Pressley is cup-tied for the current Champions League competition.

Despite Pressley undergoing a medical with Barclays Premiership side Charlton on Wednesday, Celtic manager Gordon Strachan continued to talk with the player and his representative.

Pressley reached a deal to leave Hearts on December 9, six weeks after criticising the way the club was being run.

However rather than joining Charlton's battle to avoid relegation, Pressley will step into a Celtic team who have a 15-point cushion at the top of the Bank of Scotland Premier League.

Morgan told BBC Sport: "It was a really, really difficult decision. He had two fantastic offers from two good clubs, but the lure of European football next season won the day."